Grooming Matters

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animal grooming vector icons
Spend Money, Save Time:
Freshly groomed labradoodle standing on a grooming table, with a timer overlay indicating '1 Hour 20 Min to Finished Groom'.
Why Timesaving Tools are Worth the Investment
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by Daryl Conner

My family teases me about my spending habits. They say, “Some women collect handbags; some buy closets full of shoes. But you, you buy grooming tools.” And they are not wrong. If a new whiz-bang, gotta-have-it grooming tool becomes available, I will try it.

Sometimes, I find my purchase is something I have no idea how I ever worked without it (I’m looking at you, chunking shears!), and other times I find the tool languishes because I don’t find it helpful—but still, I have to try. Why? Because when a tool works the way it is supposed to, it will make the grooming process go more smoothly and quickly, which is good for both the pet and groomer.

Let me walk you through a typical groom using tools that I have invested in that save me time and provide excellent care for the pets I groom. Some of these tools were expensive initially, but they pay me back by allowing me to work more safely and efficiently, which means I can groom more dogs per day, therefore increasing my income.

vector illustration of a dog with bubbles on its head

Getting Them Clean

My grooming studio is in a rural area, and we have well water. The pressure is not what I would wish for, so I invested in a recirculating bathing system to work around this. Bathing systems help to conserve water and save shampoo and conditioner, which saves me money and is kinder to the environment. There are several different types of bathing systems, but they all save time and money.

They also dramatically decrease the time it takes to get a dog from swamp- monster dirty to smelling like a daisy. Case in point, we gave Olive, a 53-pound poodle mix who had been swimming in a swamp right before she came in, three shampoos and a conditioning treatment. It took a mere 16 minutes of tub time to get her beautifully clean. If I had washed her by hand, the process would have taken far longer.

vector illustration of a bath towel with a large paw print on it

Getting Them Dry

We use super-absorbent towels designed for groomers to remove as much water from the coat as possible. We then squeeze the fur all over with a terry cloth towel. Absorber and terry cloth towels are not a significant investment, but they do need to be replaced frequently, as they wear out.

We also use high-velocity dryers on the pets we groom. I prefer models with a variable speed option, and I like to have at least one that has a heat option for working on chilly days, on elderly pets or puppies, and on cats. I’ve been grooming long enough to remember a time before high-velocity dryers, and I would never want to go back to those days. Olive, the thick-coated poodle mix, took me 18 minutes to dry.

vector illustration of a dog with a toothbrush in front of it
Getting Them Prepped
Beyond bathing systems and drying tools, I also invest in liquid tools that improve the finish we get on the dogs and, in many cases, save time. I choose products designed to work well with the type of coat I am working on, from shampoos and conditioners to sprays that help detangle, de-shed, fluff or whatever finish I am striving for. We are fortunate to have so many options that fulfill the promises on the label.

Olive comes to be groomed every seven weeks, and her owner does some brushing at home. Using good hand tools (brushes and combs) and appropriate liquid tools, I had Olive brushed and combed in eight minutes.

vector illustration of a brush and scissors
Getting Them Clipped
I have been using a vacuum system that attaches to my clipper since shortly after they were invented. I appreciate that these systems keep my studio cleaner as I work, and I especially enjoy how quickly and evenly I can clip a dog like Olive using attachment combs. With vacuum systems, you don’t have to go over and over an area or back brush to get a lovely, even finish.

Olive’s owner likes her to look fluffy, but she also lets her run in the woods and play in water daily, so we have come up with a trim that is aesthetically pleasing to the owner but practical as well. I use an “O” comb on her body and legs. It took just over eight minutes to trim her body.

I also invest in powerful clippers, and have recently experimented with wide blades and corresponding wide attachment combs. The added width means fewer passes over the pet’s body because more hair is clipped with each stroke using a wide blade.

vector illustration of a dog in a blue collar
Getting Them Finished
Don’t underestimate how important your scissors are. I recently bought some costly scissors from a vendor I have never dealt with before, and I have regrets. They are not nearly as well-made as the brand I usually purchase, do not hold an edge and were an expensive mistake. Good scissors that hold up to how you work will allow you to cut more efficiently and safely, and they will spend less time at the sharpeners.

It took me one hour and twenty minutes from the time Olive (and the mud she came coated in) arrived to complete her grooming service. I will give myself some credit for my skillset, but I am mostly grateful for the well-designed tools I have at my fingertips.

I firmly believe that investing in great tools is a key element in preventing burnout, reducing wear and tear on our bodies, increasing our profit, and keeping the pets we love safe and happy.

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